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General election: Boris Johnson says public projects must prioritise hiring British workers after Brexit – live news General election: Boris Johnson says public projects must prioritise hiring British workers after Brexit – live news
(32 minutes later)
The prime minister delivers the first big set-piece speech of the campaign as Labour pledges £26bn extra per year for NHSThe prime minister delivers the first big set-piece speech of the campaign as Labour pledges £26bn extra per year for NHS
Labour’s plans to transition from oil and gas will be the “polar opposite” of the Conservative move away from coal in the 1980s, the party’s Scottish leader has said. Speaking at a miners’ welfare in Uddingston, in South Lanarkshire, Richard Leonard said the “green industrial revolution” being touted by Labour will be “by consent”.
The Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, said he does not think his party’s environmental policy would spell the end for fossil fuels. He added that he was aware of the number of jobs dependent on the fossil fuel industry.
Nigel Farage, the Brexit party leader, is now saying that he could not vote Conservative on the basis of what they have done this week. Earlier he suggested he might. (See 5.14pm.)Nigel Farage, the Brexit party leader, is now saying that he could not vote Conservative on the basis of what they have done this week. Earlier he suggested he might. (See 5.14pm.)
Q: Corbyn has ruled out a second referendum next year. Aren’t you misleading the public by saying otherwise. And is not your deal with the Brexit party just as shady as any Labour/SNP cooperation? Q: Corbyn has ruled out a second referendum next year. Aren’t you misleading the public by saying otherwise? And is not your deal with the Brexit party just as shady as any Labour/SNP cooperation?
Johnson says the Tories do not do deals.Johnson says the Tories do not do deals.
On what he calls “the Sturgeon/Corbyn alliance”, he says Nicola Sturgeon is Jeremy Corbyn’s “path to power” and his “yoke-mate of destiny”. She wants a referendum next year. So it is hard to see how Corbyn could turn her down.On what he calls “the Sturgeon/Corbyn alliance”, he says Nicola Sturgeon is Jeremy Corbyn’s “path to power” and his “yoke-mate of destiny”. She wants a referendum next year. So it is hard to see how Corbyn could turn her down.
He says this country has had enough of referendums like this. He wants to get on and get Brexit done, he says.He says this country has had enough of referendums like this. He wants to get on and get Brexit done, he says.
He says the potential of this country is perfectly represented by the electric vehicles being made at this factory. He is going to turbocharge - if you can turbocharge an electric vehicle - the opportunities for this country. He says the potential of this country is perfectly represented by the electric vehicles being made at this factory. He is going to turbocharge – if you can turbocharge an electric vehicle – the opportunities for this country.
And that’s it. The Q&A is over.And that’s it. The Q&A is over.
I will post a summary soon.I will post a summary soon.
Q: What will it mean if the Brexit party do stand against you?Q: What will it mean if the Brexit party do stand against you?
Johnson says his deal is read to go. We can slam it in the oven, and be ready to leave in January. Johnson says his deal is ready to go. We can slam it in the oven, and be ready to leave in January.
Q: Have you got a message for Nigel Farage? And why did you refer to onanism in the extracts released last night, when you did not use that word this afternoon?Q: Have you got a message for Nigel Farage? And why did you refer to onanism in the extracts released last night, when you did not use that word this afternoon?
Johnson says he would urge people to back Conservative candidates.Johnson says he would urge people to back Conservative candidates.
And he says the “onanism” reference was in a “stray early draft” of his speech.And he says the “onanism” reference was in a “stray early draft” of his speech.
Q: (From the Daily Mail) Earlier today Jeremy Corbyn questioned the US government’s account of the death of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. [Er, not quite - see 4.28pm.] What is your reaction?Q: (From the Daily Mail) Earlier today Jeremy Corbyn questioned the US government’s account of the death of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. [Er, not quite - see 4.28pm.] What is your reaction?
Johnson says it is unrealistic to think Baghdadi could have been captured. He says he does not know the details of what Corbyn said. But if it is as the questioner suggested, Corbyn is being naive.Johnson says it is unrealistic to think Baghdadi could have been captured. He says he does not know the details of what Corbyn said. But if it is as the questioner suggested, Corbyn is being naive.
Q: What would you do to restore council budgets?Q: What would you do to restore council budgets?
Johnson says the government is putting more into social care, because that is where the real pinch is. But the best way to support councils like Coventry is to support the economy, so that the tax base is there. Johnson says the government is putting more into social care, because that is where the real pinch is. But the best way to support councils such as Coventry is to support the economy, so that the tax base is there.
Q: David Gauke says if you win, that will be bad for the UK. Why should people trust you to lead the country when people who worked with you in cabinet don’t trust you?Q: David Gauke says if you win, that will be bad for the UK. Why should people trust you to lead the country when people who worked with you in cabinet don’t trust you?
Johnson says he leads a one nation government. He wants to deliver on the people’s priorities. But the problem at the moment is that parliament won’t push Brexit through.Johnson says he leads a one nation government. He wants to deliver on the people’s priorities. But the problem at the moment is that parliament won’t push Brexit through.
He says he would say to Gauke, unless the Tories have a working majority, there will be a coalition led by Jeremy Corbyn and “years of paralysis”.He says he would say to Gauke, unless the Tories have a working majority, there will be a coalition led by Jeremy Corbyn and “years of paralysis”.
Q: Will you apologise to the flood victims?Q: Will you apologise to the flood victims?
Johnson says the emergency services have been working flat out to help people. Being hit by a flood is a terrible thing. A huge amount of work is going on.Johnson says the emergency services have been working flat out to help people. Being hit by a flood is a terrible thing. A huge amount of work is going on.
He says it is important for people to understand what financial compensation is available.He says it is important for people to understand what financial compensation is available.
He says the UK needs to invest in flood defences. Some £2.6bn has already been put in, he says. But there is “much more work to be done”.He says the UK needs to invest in flood defences. Some £2.6bn has already been put in, he says. But there is “much more work to be done”.
Johnson is now taking questions.Johnson is now taking questions.
Q: You have been criticised for your handling of the floods, and you have got former Tories running as independents. Are you in control of this campaign?Q: You have been criticised for your handling of the floods, and you have got former Tories running as independents. Are you in control of this campaign?
Johnson says he has visited the flood areas twice now. He pays tribute to how people are coping. The government is ready to do what it can. No one can over-estimate how terrible this is for people, he says. Where there are gaps in insurance, he will sort it out, he says. Johnson says he has visited the flood areas twice now. He pays tribute to how people are coping. The government is ready to do what it can. No one can overestimate how terrible this is for people, he says. Where there are gaps in insurance, he will sort it out, he says.
On the campaign generally, he says of course we need to get Brexit done, “because it has been paralysing politics for three years”.On the campaign generally, he says of course we need to get Brexit done, “because it has been paralysing politics for three years”.
This is from the Times’ Steven Swinford.This is from the Times’ Steven Swinford.
Johnson says he will make Britain the greatest place on earth.Johnson says he will make Britain the greatest place on earth.
We should get on with it, he says, instead of wasting 2020 on two referendums.We should get on with it, he says, instead of wasting 2020 on two referendums.
He asks people if they want to wake up on 13 December and find a Corbyn-Sturgeon “technicolour coalition of chaos”.He asks people if they want to wake up on 13 December and find a Corbyn-Sturgeon “technicolour coalition of chaos”.
Johnson says it it technical breakthroughs, like the ones being promoted by this factory, that will enable the UK to cut carbon emissions. Johnson says it is technical breakthroughs, like the ones being promoted by this factory, that will enable the UK to cut carbon emissions.